Responsible Research and Ethical Considerations

We are aware that working with children calls for a deep understanding of child and adolescent development and behaviour and the team’s training in child psychology and psychotherapy is an important aspect of our ethos. Recruitment of children under 16 is always done through parents or guardians, and we contact the parent first, not the child, to obtain permission to interview on each occasion. Although Market Research Society guidelines suggest consent can be ‘front-loaded’, ie the parent is consenting to multiple future contacts, we believe that it is good practice to inform the parent or guardian, and the child, about the nature of the research before gaining their consent on each occasion, what is described in the British Psychological Association’s guidelines as ‘informed consent’. We are also conscious that the child or young person has the right to withdraw from research at any time. All our staff and associates have DBS clearance.